Change-speed gear



Dec. 5, 1950 J, SELBY 2,533,056

CHANGE-SPEED GEAR Filed Deo. 50, 1947 Attorney Patented Dec. 5, 1950 CHANGE SPEED GEAR James Selby, Middlesex, England, assignor to Victoria Machine Tool Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application December so, 1947, serial No. 794,553

In Great Britain June 13, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires .lune 13, 1965 4 Claims.

This invention relates to change speed gears and refers particularly but not exclusively to the change speed gears employed with machine tools.

The object of the invention is'the provision of improved means for enabling the gear changes to be effected easily and safely.

The invention consists broadly in the provision in an arrangement comprising a prime mover, a device driven thereby anda change speed gearing between said Vprime mover and said driven device, ofA a transmission'mechanism between said prime mover and said change speed gearing and means whereby the transmission ratio of said transmission mechanismis adapted to be greatly reduced and then returned to normal, in order that the gears may be rotating slowly while the gear change is being eeffcted, said transmission mechanism comprising driving and driven elements rotatable about a common axis, a pair of coaxial planet pinions having different diameters and constrained to rotate as one piece, said pinions being rotatably mounted on said driving element with their axis parallel to, and at a suitable radius from, the axis of said elements, one of said planet pinions being in mesh with a sun pinion which is'fast on said driven element, and the other Ibeing in mesh with a sun pinion which is rotatable about the axis of said elements and is adapted alternatively to be coupled either fast to one of said elements (whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is'unity) or fast to a xed part (whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is much reduced).

In accordance with one arrangement, the invention is applied to a machine tool, which'i's provided with change speed gearing, and which has associated with it a single preselecting element adapted to be preset to a position corresponding to the required speed ratio, and a single gear changing element adapted, upon actuation from a normal to an operative posi'- tion, to elfect the gear change to the speed ratio preselected by the preselecting element. The device comprising the preselecting element and the gear changing element may be in accordance with our prior British specification No. 22,351/44.

In applying the invention to such a machine tool, the transmission device, which vis provided in the drive between the prime mover and the gears, normally transmits at its one-to-one ratio, and the arrangement is such that,LA in response to the gear changing element being actuated from its normal to its operative position so as to effect a gear change, said transmission device is automatically set for transmitting at its speed reduction ratio. Thus, while the gears are being actually shifted into their new positions, they are being driven very slowly, and this both ensures that they will be able to engage with each other, and that they will not suier damage in so doing. When the gear changing element is returned to its normal position leaving the gears at their new speed, the transmission device is automatically re-set to its one-to-one ratio. Thus when the operator desires to make a gear change,\all that he has to do is to set the preselecting element to the required speed and move the gear changing element from its normal to its operative position and back again, and the gear change will be eifected veasily and under conditions of perfect safety.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a sectional side elevation of the said transmission device;

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the transmission device, the change speed gearing and the electric motor forming the prime mover are inter-related.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the scheme as a whole.

Referring to the drawings, an electric motor i (Figures 2 and 3) drives a shaft 2 (Figures 1 and 3) which has fast on it a pulley 3. This pulley 3, through belting indicated at 4, drives a pulley 5 which, in turn, drives a shaft 6 which, through a change speed gearing 31 having a preselecting element 38 and a gear changingelement l, drives the machine tool 39. As will hereinafter appear, the pulley 5 may be either coupled direct to the shaft 6 or may be coupled to said shaft at a very high speed reduction ratio. Normally, said pulley 5 is direct coupled to said shaft G, and theY arrangement is such that in response to the gear changing element 1 (Figures 2 and 3) being actuated from its normal to its operative position so as to effect a gear change, said pulley 5 becomes coupled to said Shaft B at the said high speed reduction ratio.

When said gear changing element I is returned to its normal position, leaving the gears at their new speed, the pulley 5 becomes again direct coupled to the shaft 6.

Thus all the operator has to do in making a gear change is to set the preselecting element 38 to the required speed, and then move the gear changing element 'l from its normal position and back again and the gears will be automatically slowed to a very slow speed While the gear change is being made and the gear change will accordingly be effected easily and under conditions of perfect safety.

The change speed gearing forms no part of the invention per se and further description thereof is not deemed necessary. As an example of such a mechanism, We refer to prior BritishY Batent No. 587,604 which has a gear changingv element 27 or 58 (corresponding to the present element l) and a preselecting element 15 or 57. `(corresponding to the present preselecting element 3S).

Describing now the manner in which the pulg; ley 5 may be coupled to the shaft 6 eitherdire'ct or through a speed reduction ratio, said pulley is mounted loosely on said sliaftfalmY apair of coaxial planet pinions 8 and 9 having slightly different diameters and forming one rigid piece are rotatably mounted on said pulley wheel with their, axis I parallel to and at asuitable radius non @in ans "or theshafrt Tnenrgerf df. these planet"'plfiion's,`9 is in mesh'with "a pinion I'l"w.hicl1V is' fast on thesh'at '6 and. the sr'fn'alle'r of theplanet Pirlins. 8 is'in' rneshwitl' an'thefr sun pinion l2 which isf loose on said shaft' 'Gf and which can be coupled fast'` alterna? t'iv'ely' to the pulley wheel 5 or to a' fixed part. Thesu'n pinion Il will," of course, be 'of smaller diameter tha'r'i'th'e'sun pinionIZl ""Ilt willl loe'srl th'atwhen the sun pinion I2 is coupled fast tothe pulley wheel 5, the Whole system`includirig Said, pulley Wheel 5, the planet pinions `8 and 9, t'llijeunpinions I I and l2, 'and the shaft Sinust rotate as'ne'l piece and -'orm a direct'drive. When onA the other hand, said sun pinion "I2 is coupled fast'toa'xed part, the pfianet pinion meer, 215th@ puii'ey wheel 5 rotat'es, roll'around'said sun piniori'l 2, andsince the other. planet pinionllisf iriozie p iecewith the saidpla'nt pnifonf; and the tivo pairs of inter,- reshing'pinions 8, I2 and'S, `'II have slightly dii-ferent speed ratios, the sun pinion Il,` which ijs^`fast"'ofn the "shaft 6, will rotate slowly. Thus aid'sha'ft 5 Willalso rotate slowl'yand the'y setting isiforgtii' speed reiiictipn i@ 'i In"pra t`ice"t her will, ofcourse, be` more than one pair" f Ycoaxial planet pi" 8 and 9"in engagement with the comm "sun pini'fns I2 and@lit'Thersmayror'exa 1e; as shown in Figure Vl, be two pairsron dia'rnetrfically'ppsite slides ci thesunipinionsftliere 'could be three spaced at izodgeesargound said sun pinions' "Iri practice, the pulley 5, isfin'ade hol l as shown andthe planet pinions Sand S` are mount"- el, within it. To render theY loose sun pinion [2 Capable of"'being'coupled alternati'vely4 toA the pull`ey`wheel and toa fixed part,` said pinion ljziis provided with 'an axial sleeve-like' sixths'ilon; I; surrounding the shaft 6, whichex'lt'e'iids tdiiheioetsideof Said pulley" when' 5, and this extension has mounted on it in splined relation, as, shown, s` Yas to be aifzially Slidable not rotatable relative to it, a clutch 'and brake Wheel |14." `Wher1said clutch and brake wheel r4 issue' towards' said puuey' 5` it 'acts in the nef nire of a Clutch' andmjkes, clutching engagnient with' said; pulley and tneri're couples tneloose'snn pinion |210, Said pulley! and when said clutch and brake wheel I'IA isslil lto the end of itsy stroke in the other direction, yit makes braking engagement with 2i ix'l part Wand acts' afs." a. brake, rand. thereby Cbnplsfthe 106s? sun pinion lZto Said xed Dart.

' said clutch and bien@I when 4v isy biased by maris of aspring I6" towards the pulley Wheel 5, and thus the direct-drive condition is normally established. The movement of said clutch and brake wheel I4 in opposition to said spring (j so as to establish thespeedereduction condi- 5 tion, is effected by energisinga solenoid Il, the plunger of which is connected to said clutch and brake wheel I4 through the medium of a lever I3 having a bifurcated end I9 straddling a centre bossV 2Q "on said clutch and brake wheel and adapted to bear against the clutch and brake Wheel proper so asi'to form a slip connection in the well known Way. Thus, as will be clear from the drawing, when the solenoid I'I is energised, the lever. will be rotated counter-clockwise about its axis 2 I and the bifurcated end I9 thereoffw'illpress theclutch and brake wheel I4 in opposition to the spring I6 away from the pul- 1ey,5

As shown in Figure 2, when the aforesaid gear changing element- 1 is'mQVed im@ i. normal i'fiis "fg'fiiir nositignnwiigfi elmni 2? nechanicailv'assdiated therewith iS lqsed n' its' cntacts'ZS 'justafter thecom'mencme'nt of movement. Qf seid, scar change, elementv and thei-by encrgisedihs'silnod' Il, ansi' when Sid gea'i" Achanging dementie returned l() its" I: mal nnsiien nid siiiieh element?? is, r'ops'nd fm its? QQQttS. 2.3 @1151 Seid 'Solenld n is de? ene gised. Thus, loeiore'sta1 ed,' they device nrnnlli transmits i. 'its bile-Wen? Speed 'raf' tic and is antomaiially ,Sei @its Spe 'red-i16- tionratiof whilevthe gears of the machine tool ne hei'ns'actuallysiiifisd- For eiutcifiinein?.y Clutch wheel l.4 to, the pnlley 5 des. Gluten elements En are Provide@ formed as Vshown vrespiectivelyi on the 'right hand en@ @fine @entre b s 2.9 'orne durch and brake vglheei l'4j ansi Ona ring" 24 secured to the pulley s. "For ciuthm'gjsai'i thinning wheel 1Mo @n 'xed part' l` 5co en aging coined friction surfaces 'as illnsiratd As'iiififi.ein, In, rd i0, 'nblj t dogs to' engage easily and" iii/iilflllil daiige W nih? elliiciiin Wh'l l! (thei'ii reist* imei' is( returned engagement waarnemilif'wheel it is. desrbl'tha', lSaid pulley 5 Shall be. rotating dnlrslntiln aliid 1W@ fhieifeihis njciitiri by equsmgjtiie electri incidir. which constitutes the priin 'r 'iover tore'vefrse automatiah. bini@ 'th 'es-ar hanging einei' 'T 'iS 'from fine ofitsjjt'iyojpsitiofrs tdoiebther. when' ihi filiiifin-Y and brek Wlie Nflthe' PI111QYU5 the: ltlf 4.Wi-.1l 'b SWg y, 'f "njtly to thev 'inotor Acnn'ections having been reversed,` "the arrangement' may be timed so'that the dogs'enga'ge VatV a 'suitably levy.` s'peedf' Incidentally, as wi'llb'e seen from the.' di. Win/2.,' there iS n Cfrnnnsatn. rei/@rsa1 offdrijve' by` the transmission/*device each time it' changes o 'ne'speedfratio tothe'ther.

Figure Zulu/strates inmsornre detail lthe way in when ne reversal, '0iv 'the nner is "effoedi'" nl this ngiireynie refelenes Llj'Lz arid-L3 desisa'three-pha esupply andthe reference V25 in Witch for cutting pff the whole aidsupplx'm .Y

Wh'en'the gear'fchanging element 1 is ait the nemen minion Sabre the" #einen @niacin bridges a Ypair of contacts '26 andf'assuxi'ringf'the Inain switch 2,5A toJ be closed, the, Winding 21ug'of an electromagnetic switclrf'wili`b"ierised an "said's h 2 Iwill close and th'enotor lI 5 tool at a speed determined by the setting of the gears.

When now a, gear change is to be made, the control element I is moved to its operative position and the contact 22 accordingly un-bridges the contacts` 26 and bridges the aforesaid contacts 23. The winding 2'Iw is accordingly deenergised, thereby causing the switch 21 to open, and the winding 29u; of another electromagnetic switch 29 is energised and said switch 29 closes, and thereby, as will be quite clear from the drawings, the direction of the energisation of the motor I is reversed, At the same time, as before described, the solenoid I'I is energised so that the gears are driven at much reduced speed Vduring the gear change, quite irrespective of the slow down of the motor due to the reversal of vitsI connections.

When the gear changing element, having effected the gear change, returns to the normal position, switch 29 will open and switch 21 will close, and the motor I will be energised in the original direction. Also solenoid I'I will be deenergised causing the clutch and brake wheel Ill to be directly coupled to the pulley 5 for reestablishing the direct drive from said pulley 5 to the shaftr E. As before described, the arrange-- ment is such that the motor I isrunning at somewhere near Zero speed when the dogs of the clutch wheel and of the pulley 5 are engaging.

Dealing now with certain constructional details, the stationary supporting structure is designated throughout Figure 1 by the reference 30. The pulley 5 is formed with a centre boss on each side whereby it bears in ball bearings 3I carried by said supporting structure 30.

lend of the boss 2i) of the clutch and brake wheel I4 and a collar 34 which is loose on the shaft 6 and is supported against axial movement by means of an end thrust ball bearing 35 carried by a fixed bearing bush 35 in which the shaft 5 bears.

It will be seen that when the direct drive condition obtains, with the pulley 5 and shaft 6 together with all their associated parts rotating as one unit, the bearings for said unit will be constituted by the two ball races 3i and the bearing bush 35. The spring I6 and collar 34 will also rotate and the ball race 35 will, therefore, be in operation.

When the slow transmission condition obtains, with the pulley 5 rotating relatively quickly, and the pinion I I and shaft 6 rotating relatively slowly and the pinion I2 and extension i3 together with the bush 33 being stationary, it will be seen that, in addition to the bearings afforded by the bearings 3| and 35, bearing surfaces will be provided between the boss on the pinion Il and the right hand boss of the pulley 5, and also between the extension I3 and the left hand boss of the pulley 5 and between the bush 33 and the shaft 6. At this time, the spring I5 and collar 34 will be stationary and the ball race 35 will, therefore, not be operative.

It may be found preferable to provide dog elements for engaging clutch and brake wheel to The exthe fixed part. In such cases the dogs will preferably engage an intermediate part which is permanently frictionally coupled to the fixed part. Thus, when the dogs first engage, the intermediate part is capable of a slipping movement against friction, and the shock caused by bringing the clutch wheel to rest is minimised.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use with gears which have preselecting means as above described, but the transmission device oan also be used in connection with gears whichy are changed in the usual way, as for example by means of two or more levers. n this case there would be a manually operated master switch controlling the solenoid. Said master switch would have a "normal running or open position, at which the solenoid is deenergised and the transmission device is in the direct-drive state, and a speed change or closed position, at which the solenoid is energised andi` the transmission device is in the speed-reduction state. When the operator is about to change gear he would simply move the master switch .to the speed change position and would return it to thenormal running position when the gear change is effected.

It may be found possible, perhaps by resorting to a friction clutch in place of the dog clutch, to obviate the necessity of reversing the motor in the manner above described, each time the transmission device is actuated from one of its two states to the other.

I claim:

i. In a change speed transmission, the combination including, a prime mover, a driven device, a change speed gearing, and a transmission mechanism, said prime mover being adapted to drive said driven device through said transmission mechanism and said change speed gearing in that order, said transmission mechanism comprising driving and driven elements rotatable about a common axis, a pair of coaxial planet pinions having different diameters and constrained to rotate as one piece, said pinions being rotatably mounted on said driving element with their axis parallel to and at a given radius from the axis of said elements, a sun pinion fast on said driven element and in mesh with one of said planet pinion, a sun pinion rotatable about the axis of said elements and in Ymesh with the other planet pinion, and means whereby said last named sun pinion is adapted alternatively to be coupled either fast to one of said elements whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is unity or fast to a fixed part whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is greatly reduced, a member movable to eiect any of a plurality of gear changes of said change speed gearing and means whereby in response to the movement of said member to effect any of such changes, said last named sun pinion is uncoupled from said one of said elements and is coupled fast to said iixed part.

2. In a change speed transmission, the combination including, a prime mover, a driven device, a change speed gearing, and a transmission mechanism, said prime mover being adapted to drive said driven device through said transmission mechanism and said change speed gearing in that order, said transmission mechanism comprising driving and driven elements rotatable about a common axis, a pair of coaxial planet pinions having different diameters and constrained to rotate as one piece, said pinions being rotatably mountedon said driving element` with theirfaxis'parallel. to,1a-nd at agiven radiusfrom, the axis ofV said elements, a sun pinion fast on said driven element and in mesh with one of said planet pinions, a sun pinion rotatable about the axisof said elements and. in mesh with the other planet. pinion, and means whereby said last named sun pinion is adapted alternatively to be coupled. either fast to one ofv said elementswhereby the. transmission ratio from said driving. to said driven element is unity` or fast to a fixed part whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element isgreatly reduced, means to preselect a-given gear change of said change. speed gearing, a member movable from i av rst, position to a second position to effect the preselected. gear'change and returnable to said rst position when said gear change, is eiected, means whereby inv response to the movement of said member from said rst position towards said second position, said last-named sun pinion is uncoupled from said one of said elements and is coupled fast to said xed part, and means whereby, in response to the return movement of said member from said: second position to said rst position, said last-named sunv member is uncoupled from. said fixed part and is coupled fast to said one of said elements.

3'. InY a change,v speed transmission, the combination including, an electric motor, a driven device, a change speed gearing, and a transmission mechanism, said= electric motor being adapted to drive said driven device through said transmission mechanism and said change speed gearing Vin that order, said transmission mechai V nism comprising driving and driven elements rotatable about a common axis, a pair of coaxial planet pinions having diierent diameters and constrained to rotate as one piece, said pinions being rotatably mounted on said driving element with their axis parallel to and at a given radius from the axis of said elements, a sun pinion fast on said driven element and in mesh with one of said planet pinions, a sun pinion rotatable about the axis of said elements and in mesh with the other planet pinion, and means whereby said last-named sun pinion is adapted alternatively to be coupled either fast to one of said elements whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is unity or fast to a fixed part whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is greatly reduced, a member movable to effect a gear change of said change speed gearingmeans wherebiT in response to the movement of said member to eiTect such 5 change said last named sun pinion is uncoupled from said one of said elements and is coupled fast to said xed part, and means whereby, in response to the movement of said member to efn fect such gear change, the circuit connections to said electric motor are reversed said means including an electric circuit connected to said motor and including pairs of spaced contact members and two electro-magnetic switches and anmotor reversing switch, whereby when a certain pair of said contact members are connected in the motoncircuit by the. movabley gear change member the reversing switch is operated to; Iteversegthe' motor.

4,-Ini at change speedA transmission, they 6.0m;- bin'ajtion` including; an electric motor, a; driven device,Y a; changel speed gearing, and atransmission mechanism; said electric motor being adapted to drive said4 driven device through said transmission mechanism and said changefspeed gearing in that order, said transmission mechanisnr comprising driving and driven, elements rotatable-about a commonl axis, a pair ofcoaxial planet pinionsY having different diameters: and constrained to rotate as one piece,` said pinions being rotatably mounted on said driving-element with ther'axis, parallel toand ata givenl radius from@ the; axis of said elements, asun pinion. fast on said driven element and in mesh with one of saidplanet pinions, a sunV pinion rotatable about the, axis of said elements and in mesh with the other planet pinion, and means whereby said last named sun pinion is adapted alternatively to be coupledv either fast to one of said elements whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to saidl driven element is unity or fast to a xed part whereby the transmission ratio from said driving to said driven element is greatly reduced, means: to preselect a given gear change of said change speedgearing, a member movable from a-vfirst position' to a` second position to eiect the preselected gear change and returnable to said rst positionr when said gear change is effected, meansvwhereby in response to the movement of said; member from said rst position towards said secondi position, saidv last-named sun pinion is uncoupled from said one of said elements and is coupled fast to Vsaid xed part, an electrical circuit connected to saidv motor and including pairs of spaced contact members and a reversing switch androne-pair of circuit connections toV said electric motor and reversingswitch are energized to reversethe motor and means whereby, in response to the return movement of said member from said secondposition to said rst position, said last-namedsun member is uncoupled from said xed part and is coupled fast to said one of said elements and the other pair of circuit connectionsfto said electric motor are restored to drive; the electric motor in the opposite direction.

JAMES SELBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: l

UNITED STATES PATENTS' Number v Name Date 1,361,264 Johanson Feb. 1, 1921 2,066,873 Barnes Jan. 5, 1937 2,102,227 Sinclair Dec. 14, 1937 2,177,951 Simpson O'ct.`31, 1939 2,180,202 Hallden Nov. 14, 1939 2,203,743- Parsons June 11, 1940 2,348,424 Shorter May 9, 1944 2,413,763 Heyer Jan. 7, 1947 

